Page:Paul Clifford Vol 2.djvu/118

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110
PAUL CLIFFORD.

of yours. He is a friend to all of us! A prime minister is not more useful to his followers, and more burthensome to the public, than I am proud to say is—Paul Lovett!—(Loud plaudits.)—What I shall urge in his favour is simply this. The man whom opposite parties unite in praising, must have supereminent merit. Of all your companions, Gentlemen, Paul Lovett is the only man, who to that merit can advance a claim.—(Applause.)—You all know, Gentlemen, that our body has long been divided into two factions; each jealous of the other—each desirous of ascendency—and each emulous which shall put the greatest number of fingers into the public pie. In the language of the vulgar, the one faction would be called 'Swindlers,' and the other 'Highwaymen.' I, Gentlemen, who am fond of finding new names for things, and for persons, and am a bit of a politician, call the one Whigs, and the other Tories.—(Clamorous cheering.)—Of the former body, I am esteemed no uninfluential member; of the latter faction, Mr. Bags is justly consi-